Hartlepool Borough Council (18 018 882)

Statement Not upheld Looked after children 28-Jun-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council failed to provide adequate support to Mr Y, a former relevant child, and failed to provide her with financial support when he stayed with her. The Council was not at fault.

Norfolk County Council (18 017 202)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 17-Jun-2019

Summary: Mr X complained about how the Council managed contact arrangements between him and his children after they were taken into care. The Council was at fault because it failed to consider this complaint under the statutory children’s complaints procedure. The Council has agreed to complete a stage two investigation of Mr X’s complaint.

Bournemouth Borough Council (18 007 281)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 03-Jun-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council failed to support the placement of a young person with her family and acted wrongly in de-registering them, causing worry and questioning her professional judgment. There was fault by the Council in some matters, but this did not cause injustice to Mrs X or her family.

Essex County Council (18 013 205)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 29-May-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman upholds the complaint from Ms X about the Council’s failure to investigate her complaint. The Council has failed to comply with its legal duties to investigate complaints. This has caused Ms X avoidable delay in receiving a response to the complaints she has made. The Council agreed to apologise to Ms X, remind officers of their legal duties, and carry out an investigation once court proceedings have ended.

Surrey County Council (18 019 721)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 02-May-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about events between 1974 and 1986 when the complainant was under the care of social services (for children). This is because the Council has offered to work with the complainant to explore the issues.

Royal Borough of Greenwich (18 019 030)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 30-Apr-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint, because it is about what happened in court, and Mr J raised his concerns about his son’s care during proceedings.

Cheshire West & Chester Council (18 005 756)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 26-Apr-2019

Summary: Miss X complained about how the Council worked with her when, and after, she was subject to an Interim Care Order. The Council was at fault as it did not properly involve Miss X in care planning. It then delayed accepting she was a care leaver and it failed to escalate her complaint properly through the statutory children’s complaint procedures. However, these faults did not cause Miss X a significant injustice. The Council has apologised, arranged support and addressed faults with its officers.

Herefordshire Council (18 000 490)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 25-Apr-2019

Summary: Miss X complains the Council has failed to properly investigate her complaint through the statutory children’s complaints procedure. There was fault in the stage 3 panel’s decision not to allow Miss X’s nominated representative to speak on her behalf. This is because the chair of the panel had previous dealings with her representative when working for the Council and the panel should be independent of the Council. The Council should arrange for a new stage 3 panel to consider the complaint.